Car coupler positioning and supporting device



April .18, 1950 v, s ssou 2,504,892

CAR COUPLER POSITIONING AND SUPPQRTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 31, 1946 2 Sheets-She et l IN VEN TOR.

April 18, 1950 v. E. SISSON 2,504,392 CAR COUPLER POSITIONING AND SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 51, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 18, 1950 CAR COUPLER POSITIONING AND SUP- PORTING DEVICE Vinton E. Sisson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Standard Railway Equipment Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application October 31, 1946, Serial No. 706,985

5 Claims. (Cl. 213-61) This invention relates to coupler supporting and positioning devices for railway car couplers, and more particularly to means to swingably and resiliently support a railway car coupler in such manner that when the coupler is uncoupled, said coupler is maintained by the device in substantially the longitudinal central plane of the car; or in what is known in the trade as coupling range.

More specifically the device comprises a coupler carrier pivotally supported at its ends by links which are pivotally, swingably, resiliently, and preferably adjustably supported intermediate their ends from a member adapted to be fixed to a railway car, such as a striking casting, as shown in the drawings. To provide such a device for so supporting a coupler and maintaining it when uncoupled within said coupling range isthe principal object of the invention.

Broadly such a device is shown and claimed in my co-pending applications, Serial No. 706,982;- Serial No. 706,983 and Serial No. 706,984, and the claims herein are accordingly restricted to the invention illustrated and described herein. 3

Another object of the invention is to provide such a cushioning coupler support and positioning device wherein should the cushionin means fail for any reason the device would nevertheless function as a coupler support and positioning device. In other words, should a spring break the coupler would still be swingably supported and be returned to coupling range by the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a cushioned coupler carrier and positioning device of the swing motion type wherein the cushioning means is not distorted during the swinging of the device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a cushioned coupler carrier and positioning device wherein provision is made for adjusting the height of the carrier and thereby the coupler to be supported thereby above the top of the rail without affecting the resiliency of saidcushioning means.

The term resilient means, as used in the specification and claims, is intended to cover springs, rubber, or any other resi1ient material. Most of these materials, if intermittently com-, pressed to excess progressively lose their eiiectiveness, and, consequently, it is a further ob- :Iect of the invention to provide means to limit the compression of said resilient means.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a section on line l--l of Figure 2 showing one half or the device.

vertically movable, as is common.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device. Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 of the whole device showing the coupler moved laterally. Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing 1 A the device as an emergency support and. coupler positioning device. Figuresb, 6 and 7 are, respectively, top, end

and side views of the spring seat.

.- Figures 8 and 9 are, respectively, top and side views of the spring cap.

Figures 10 and 11 are, respectively, top and side views of the coupler support. Figures 12 and 13 are, respectively, side and end views of the supporting links for the coupler carrier.

1 The coupler support and positioning device comprises two spaced rectangularly shaped plates l and 2, maintained in spaced relation by reinforcing webs 3 and 4. Web 4 extends adjacent the bottom of the spaced plates substantially from side to side thereof. Plates l and 2 are each provided with a rectangular central opening 5 -=the-rethrough, through which the shank 6 of the car coupler is longitudinally, laterally and Web 3 is channel-shaped in longitudinal section, and extends about the top and upper part of the sides of opening 5, and each end is provided with a laterally extendin flange or shelf '1. The end portion of each flange or shelf is bifurcated and between the bearings 8--8. The coupler support suspending link is shown at In and comprises a. link-like member, being threaded at its upper end and provided with a T-head at the other end providing trunnions Il-l l extending from opposite sides of said link. Intermediate the ends of the link Ill the link is upset, as at 12, and. formed with an elongated eye l3 designed to surround the pin 9 and be pivotally supported thereon, but free to reciprocate thereon within the limits of eye I3. Mounted upon the link I0 above eye [3 is the spring seat l4, being circular. in form, and provided with an axial hole I5 of a size to readily slip over the threaded end of the link l0. Flanges i6 project downwardly from the under surface of seat l4, they being spaced so as to occur on opposite sides of hole I 5 so that link Ill may extend therebetween. (See Fig. 2.) The lower edge of each flange I6 is formed with a semi-circular recess H, the radius oi: which is substantially the same as that of the pin 9 so the plates 1 and 2 and abov iiib i'-sd*that"when that when the seat I4 is placed upon the link tionship, said journal pin passing through an I ll, recesses I! may rest upon pin 9. Upon spring elongated opening in its respective link to provide Se 4 s mounted the coil p g "3 which also means to limit thedownward movement of said surrounds the link l0, and on top of the spring link without afiecting the pivotal suspension of about said link I0 is the washer-like spring cap 5 the carrier. I9, adjustab ly held in place thereon py the net 20 2. Mean to swingably and resiliently support The coupler ef is'indicate' at '25 arise (if wa earner irom 'faar'nembrf adapted to be ra y ih e o fiit t e was t ebfb iiikdto a'carand" provided with spaced bearings furcated so as to straddle the link In and formed at each end of said member, said means comprisinto spaced bearing portions 26 to rest upon an journ-al pins each of which is adapted to enbe supported by the tIllI'lIliOIlS-LQII' f'L EXtBIIGQ age respectivebearings at each end of said meming upwardly around the edge of each bifurcated r and span the space therebetween, a pair of portion is a web 21, the inner endspi wh ks, ea h adapted to pivotally suspend one end are spaced from each othe 'ist sa as mating the width of the sh I 5 having an elongated open- Y v gh surrounding saidjournal pin be- -tween"saidrespective bearings to limit the movethe carrier is suspended upon the links {O -as; ment of said link; a seat mounted upon each link shown in Figures 1 to i, said carrier 'ai'id'pi'votally' engaging said journal pin between etvveen plates l said respective bearing v v n a limits of-the one opening 'wnfl l i v or .r latraiii-noY/e'rn e suspen on espective ends of said memfi v ilfifl gs g port a coupler carrier from a member ada about the axis of r I d t ve the car-dr'ofii bein declared W VIN'l-GN?El-=SiSSGN.-

*REFER ensures V I V "UNITED iiwenfeach seatarnd m' to hldfsaidhnk I i Name- 7 .c-Dat cap, resilient means' andseafiixnoperativ' reia 1,993,712 -B rrows res;; =-Mar.- 5,-1935? 

